Joint Press Release

Ramallah – The Ministry of Social Development, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP/PAPP), and Germany today announced the launch of a USD 3 million socio-economic emergency response to support the northern governorates of the West Bank, following recent hostilities that severely affected thousands of families and disrupted local livelihoods.

The announcement was made during an official launching ceremony held in Ramallah, attended by H.E. Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development and Minister of State for Relief Affairs ad interim; H.E. Dr. Mohammad Al-Amour, Minister of National Economy; H.E. Dr. Nasser Qatami, Prime Minister Advisor for Arab and Islamic Funds; Mrs. Anke Schlimm, Head of the German Representative Office in Ramallah; Mr. Martin Mauthe-Kaeter, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Representative Office; Mr. Arne Gooss, Director of the German Development Bank (KfW); and Mr. Jaco Cilliers, UNDP/PAPP Special Representative of the Administrator, along with senior representatives of Palestinian civil society organizations and international partners.

„This project comes as part of the government’s emergency response to the urgent needs of families displaced and affected by recent military operations in the northern West Bank. The Ministry is leading a coordinated effort alongside UNDP and civil society partners to provide targeted support for the most vulnerable, including women-headed households, persons with disabilities, and small business owners. Together, we aim to strengthen resilience, protect livelihoods, and uphold the dignity of affected families,“ said H.E. Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development.

Funded by the Government of Germany through KfW and implemented under UNDP/PAPP’s Investment Programme for Resilience (IPR), this joint intervention focuses on restoring dignified living conditions for over 4,000 individuals through income-generating activities. It will directly support more than 500 small and micro-enterprises and cooperatives, and community-based initiatives, enabling them to resume operations and contribute to economic recovery.
Mrs. Anke Schlimm, the German Representative in Ramallah reiterated: „During these challenging times for the Palestinian people in the northern West Bank, Germany is providing immediate relief to help families in restoring their livelihoods and strengthening their resilience. We are committed in supporting the Palestinian people in practical terms.“

Jaco Cilliers, UNDP/PAPP Special Representative of the Administrator said: „UNDP is proud to work with the Palestinian Government, in close coordination with line ministries and civil society partners. Through this initiative, supported by our strategic partners Germany and its development bank KfW, we are ensuring that the needs of displaced families, women-headed households, youth, and daily wage workers are met with dignity. The programme will enable over 600 individuals to restart income-generating activities, benefitting more than 4,000 people and creating vital pathways for recovery“.

The intervention specifically targets households headed by women or including persons with disabilities, as well as affected small business owners, whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the recent hostilities, aiming to reintegrate them into the economic process and enhance their resilience.

The initiative comes at a critical time, as communities in the Northern Governorates of the West Bank continue to face the consequences of instability—ranging from damaged infrastructure and economic paralysis to widespread loss of livelihoods. The Palestinian government, in partnership with development actors, is taking a leading role in responding to these challenges in a manner that aligns with broader recovery frameworks.

This effort reflects the strong commitment of the UNDP and German government to support inclusive and sustainable recovery in Palestine, and underscores the importance of international solidarity in addressing urgent socio-economic needs while laying the foundation for long-term resilience.

For media inquiries and further information, please contact:

Musa Khalil, Head of Communication Unit
E-mail: musa.khalil@undp.org.
Tel: +972 6268200
Mobile: +972 5748761

For more information about UNDP/PAPP visit www.ps.undp.org